Job Description

Details

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Reference number

424379

Salary

61,446 - 86,547
National: 61,446 - 80,425


London: 65,835 - 86,547




Please ensure that you read the Pay and Reward information for civil service and internal colleagues before applying.
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP

Job grade

Grade 6
Level 3

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

OFGEM - Energy Systems Design & Development Infrastructure

Type of role

Architecture and Data

Digital

Planning

Policy

Strategy

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

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Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

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Successful candidates may be based in any of our office locations - Cardiff, Glasgow, or London. We especially welcome applicants from Cardiff and Glasgow.

About the job

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Job summary

Ofgem is at the forefront of the fight to future-proof Britain's energy system, combating climate change and keeping costs under control. We're looking for a Head of Energy System Planning to join us and lead a high-impact programme of work that will shape how we transition to a cleaner, smarter and more efficient energy system.



Ofgem is Great Britain's independent energy regulator. We're at the forefront of change across the energy sector, driving toward Net Zero whilst protecting energy consumers, especially vulnerable people.



We're offering a permanent opportunity where you'll work with some of the most influential players in the energy sector. This is a strategic leadership role at the heart of one of the most exciting transformations in UK energy policy, focused on delivering a fairer system through forward-thinking planning and collaboration. You'll help ensure future energy infrastructure meets the needs of consumers while enabling the UK to meet its Clean Power 2030 and Net Zero targets.



As the energy landscape rapidly evolves, you'll lead a small but agile team that's right at the centre of the UK's system-wide transformation. Working closely with government and the National Energy System Operator (NESO), your work will influence how new infrastructure is planned, where investment goes, and how the UK can deliver energy security and affordability long into the future.



We're looking for someone with strong sector knowledge, excellent analytical judgement, and the credibility to shape high-level strategic decisions. You'll bring experience of leading multi-disciplinary teams, advising senior stakeholders, and working across organisational boundaries with confidence and clarity.



In return, we offer flexible working, a hybrid approach from our London, Cardiff or Glasgow offices, and the opportunity to lead a team that's helping to reimagine the UK's energy future. You'll work in an inclusive, high-performing environment that values diverse thinking and bold leadership.



We have a critical purpose to design and deliver long-term energy system plans that realise the UK's Clean Power 2030 and Net Zero ambitions. Join us to lead this mission and help shape the future for generations to come.



Read on and find out more.

Job description

This is an exciting moment in the UK's transition to net zero where energy system planning is at the fore. The UK Government has committed to deliver Clean Power by 2030, and Ofgem has an important delivery role to play. Building on the 2030 plan,DESNZ has also commissioned the newly formed National Energy System Operator (NESO) to prepare a Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) for Great Britain. The SSEP will play a crucial role in shaping our future energy system by guiding investment choices in generation and transmission infrastructure to facilitate the transition to net zero. Alongside preparing the SSEP, we are working jointly with NESO and DESNZ to consider how to bring about alignment and implement the SSEP. Electricity demand is also increasing, especially from AI data centres, and we need to plan future growth in ways that ensure that the energy system remains optimised for efficiency to keep control of costs.



A dedicated Energy System Planning team in Ofgem leads engagement with NESO and the UK Government in the development of the SSEP, coordination of Ofgem's support for delivering Clean Power 2030, and understanding future electricity demand growth, with a focus on ensuring that the future system takes account of consumer interests. The team is small but with a remit to engage widely across Ofgem and with external stakeholders to ensure our interests are represented, understood, and served.



As Head of the Energy System Planning team you will offer team leadership, strategic senior-level advice, build cooperation with teams across Ofgem, and lead engagement with external stakeholders especially NESO and DESNZ to deliver a diverse, impactful, and exciting programme of work in the GB energy sector. You will be someone who:

Brings energy sector insights, analytical thinking, and an ability to craft policy and strategy through clear advice to senior leadership Is flexible and can thrive in a fast-paced environment when the need requires. Will champion our culture of inclusion, and encourages, supports, and celebrates the diverse voices and experiences of our colleagues, ensuring we best represent the consumers and the communities we serve.

Person specification

Senior energy sector experience and knowledge of energy system planning in GB.

(LEAD)

An ability to think strategically and conceptually, combined with strong analytical skills, to generate senior level advice and recommendations to complex policy challenges. Experience of engaging, influencing and collaborating at all levels, including diverse colleagues, senior managers, internal and external stakeholders with credibility and self-assurance. Proven leadership and experience in building capability in diverse multi-disciplinary teams and supporting them through, and successfully embedding, changes to policies and processes. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to manage different work activities or workstreams to keep projects on track.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:


Seeing the Big Picture Making Effective Decisions Leadership Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

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Alongside your salary of 61,446, OFGEM contributes 17,800 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Ofgem can offer you a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes; 30 days annual leave after 2 years; Excellent training and development opportunities; The opportunity to join the generous Civil Service pension which also includes a valuable range of benefits; hybrid working (currently 1 day a week in the office but this is kept under review), flexible working hours and family friendly policies. Plus lots of other benefits including clean and bright offices based centrally, engaged networks and teams and an opportunity to contribute to our ambitious and important targets of establishing a Net Zero energy system by 2050. This exciting blend of professional challenge and personal reward identifies career opportunities at Ofgem as something to get excited about.

Things you need to know

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Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
When you press the 'Apply now' button, you will be asked to complete personal details (not seen by the sift panel), your career history and qualifications.


You will then be asked to provide a 1250 word 'personal statement' evidencing how you meet the essential and desirable skills and capabilities listed in the role profile. Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your supporting statement, how you meet each of the essential and desirable skills and capabilities.


The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application or used during interview, including your CV and any statements or examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Ofgem takes any incidences of cheating very seriously. Please ensure all examples provided are of your own experience. Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant applications will be withdrawn from the process. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.


Please refer to Civil Service candidate advice on the acceptable use of artificial intelligence within the recruitment and selection process - Artificial intelligence and recruitment , Civil Service Careers

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected, you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by [

https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn

].




Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:


UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.



We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

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This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

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Job contact :

Name : Chloe.Baily Email : Recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk
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Recruitment team

Email : recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of these Recruitment Principles.




In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website.